Police operatives in Lagos State have arrested a couple for faking self kidnap.
The couple, whose names were not mentioned, reportedly organized a self-kidnap in order to get a N5 million ransom from their relations resident in the United Kingdom.
The spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, told the newsmen on Saturday that the husband and wife were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday respectively after a family member of the man reported the purported kidnapping.
According to him, the husband (53) is a technician and the wife (48) is a body massager and bone setter.
He said: “The couple said they planned the self-kidnap in order to raise N3 million to buy back their house at Badagry area of Lagos.
“The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the police. He said he did it through text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to buy his house back with N3 million.
“The man claimed he decided to organise self-kidnap because none of his brothers and sisters doing well and some living abroad are willing to assist him financially.
“He claimed that if they hear of his kidnap with his wife, they would negotiate with the kidnappers and pay the money.
“The couple were still living in their house in Badagry when they sent out text messages of their kidnap to their relations. So, when the police visited the house on Tuesday, they met the wife and the three children.
“The police asked the woman to follow them to the police headquarters, Ikeja, but the woman pleaded with them to allow her to come the next day Wednesday, which was granted.
“The woman came to the station as promised and was arrested for self-kidnap while the husband was arrested the following day Thursday.
“She admitted that she supported her husband in the crime. She also admitted that her husband discussed the matter with her and she gave her approval because they never thought it will turn out negative.
“The woman claimed if the plan worked out, it would have been the easiest way to raise the money to buy back their house since her husband’s brothers in the UK are not willing to help him.
“The woman claimed to service an average of three clients for either bone setting or stroke massaging at the cost of about N150,000 per person depending on the condition of the patient. So, we are wondering why she could not gather such money for the project.”
Hundeyin, who said the couple had regretted their actions and are appealing to their families and police for forgiveness, advised members of the public to avoid crime and never be interested in family or another people’s wealth.
He said the couple will be charged to court as soon as the investigation into case is concluded.
